Walton Living Out A Dream

Playing For A Winner Makes Comeback Special

April 17, 1986|By Phil Hersh, Chicago Tribune.

BOSTON — Bill Walton was walking out of Boston Garden when two of the four sons he had in tow started throwing Superballs at each other. Without looking back at what was going on behind him, Walton advised the youngsters to ``stop that and grow up.``

Perhaps Walton appreciated the irony in his strong words. For no one is defying the advice to stop playing children`s games and grow up more than Walton, the Boston Celtics` back-up center.

There was a childlike joy in Walton`s face and voice after the final full practice before the Celtics would open the National Basketball Association playoffs against the Bulls here Thursday night. There need be no looking back for Walton now.

``I`m really looking forward to the playoffs,`` he said. ``It`s been a long time since I`ve been in them.``

It has been eight seasons, and the last time was hardly a fond memory. A bad foot limited Walton to just two playoff games for the Portland Trail Blazers, whom he had led to the NBA title the year before.

Over the seasons since then, Walton had added insult--playing for the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers--to the chronic foot injury. That he was playing at all was remarkable, because a doctor told Walton in 1981 that he would never again play even recreational basketball.

Merely coming back wasn`t enough, even for a man who said, ``I just love playing basketball`` at least a dozen times in a 20-minute interview. Walton wanted to play for another great team, one where his court sense and innate feel for the game would be appreciated.

He got more than that. He got to be one of the reasons the 1985-86 Celtics are being called one of the greatest teams of all time.

``I could have hoped for this, but it wouldn`t have been realistic to do it,`` Walton said. ``This is everything I hoped pro basketball would be.``

And Walton, at 33, has been everything the Celtics hoped for--and more

--when they traded a first-round draft choice and Cedric Maxwell to get him from the Clippers last September.

The idea was that Walton, arguably the best passing center in basketball history, could take some pressure off starting center Robert Parish.

``It looked good on paper,`` said Parish, who missed Wednesday`s practice with an upset stomach. ``I didn`t know how it was going to turn out.``

It looked better on the court. Walton played in 80 of the 82 regular-season games, 13 more appearances than in any of his previous eight seasons. While playing fewer than 20 minutes a game, he averaged 7.6 points and a stunning 6.8 rebounds.

He never played more than 28 minutes in a game, but he played with a broken nose, a bad ankle and a sore wrist. He overcame a horrendous Celtic debut, making 7 turnovers in 19 minutes (``I was a disgrace to basketball,``

Walton said), and the doubts that he could still keep up with a good team.

By the end of the season, Walton had even started two games. In the first, against Washington, he scored 20 points (on 8-for-10 shooting) and had 12 rebounds in 26 minutes; in the second, against Milwaukee, he had 22 points (8-for-11 shooting) and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes.

``My minutes were fewer than ever before and my role on the team was limited, but I was fortunate to be able to play every day,`` Walton said.

``Playing in 80 games is an accomplishment that I`m very proud of.

``Because of my role and my reduced minutes, I`ve had less pain than any year I can remember.``

His role actually became larger than expected on a team whose 67-15 record was the best in the NBA. Walton not only backed up Parish but helped fill in for power forward Kevin McHale during the 14 games McHale missed with an injury.

Now the Celtics can send out a front line of Parish, Walton and Larry Bird, or this even more imposing lineup: a front line of Parish, Walton and McHale, with the 6-foot-9-inch Bird at guard, where Celtic coach K.C. Jones used him in the NBA All-Star game. No wonder Walton said, ``I sort of like our team`` when the talents of the Bulls` front-line players were mentioned.

``Bill`s presence means we have two strong centers, one who puts 35 minutes into 20 minutes of play,`` Jones said. ``Bill has brought this team intensity and enthusiasm and a library of knowledge about the game of basketball. He`s a Hall of Famer, even if he hasn`t been able to play many years.``

Walton also brought freedom for Parish, who was able to cut down on playing time and use it more effectively.

``I don`t have to watch the clock or concern myself with foul trouble,``

Parish said. ``It`s a nice change to go out there and play and forget everything else.``

Boston`s fans, conservative by nature, have forgotten Walton`s past as a counterculture symbol. He has become one of the most popular players at Boston Garden. No one has a beef now that Walton, formerly a vegetarian, is doing commercials for a Boston-area steakhouse.